2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
12
Ranked Colleges
133
Degrees Awarded
$15,400
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 1,507 people earned their degree in urban studies/affairs, making the major the 346th most popular in the United States.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 133 urban studies/affairs graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer a degree in urban studies/affairs. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great urban studies/affairs programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the urban studies/affairs program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The urban affairs school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Urban Studies/Affairs (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s urban affairs degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k list, UM Dearborn has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $9,113 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UM Dearborn.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UM Dearborn Urban Studies/Affairs Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 13 ’s urban affairs degrees in 2020-2021.
UWM also made our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $11,973 for great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Urban Studies/Affairs Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cleveland State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cleveland State University is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 56 ’s urban affairs degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cleveland State University has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cleveland State University is $13,272 for great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Cleveland State University Urban Studies/Affairs Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wayne State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s urban affairs degrees to qualified students.
Wayne State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,060 for great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wayne State University.
Read more about Urban Studies/Affairs at Wayne State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wheaton College Illinois. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wheaton, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s urban affairs degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Wheaton College Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wheaton College Illinois is $15,933 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Urban Studies/Affairs at Wheaton College Illinois
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s urban affairs students in 2020-2021.
UC also made our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $15,061 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Urban Studies/Affairs Report
Elmhurst University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Elmhurst also took the #4 spot in our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $15,133 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Elmhurst Urban Studies/Affairs Report
Wright State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Wright State University - Main Campus is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s urban affairs degrees to qualified students.
Wright State University - Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Wright State University - Main Campus is $11,980 for great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Urban Studies/Affairs at Wright State University - Main Campus
The College of Wooster ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Wooster, Ohio, and it awarded 2 ’s urban affairs degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wooster College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The College of Wooster is $12,636 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Urban Studies/Affairs at Wooster College
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Athens, Ohio, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified ’s urban affairs students in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens also made our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $17,614 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.
Full OHIO Athens Urban Studies/Affairs Report
Roosevelt University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 3 ’s urban affairs degrees in 2020-2021.
Roosevelt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Roosevelt University is $20,854 for great lakes region urban affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Urban Studies/Affairs at Roosevelt University
With a ranking of #12, Xavier University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Urban Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Xavier is a medium-sized school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 5 ’s urban affairs degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Xavier, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Urban Studies/Affairs Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Xavier University is $29,961 for Great Lakes Region Urban Affairs students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Urban Studies/Affairs at Xavier University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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